Purple Martin (Progne subis) is in the Swallows and Martins family (Hirundinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 24,882 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Purple Martin: observations by month (U.S.)
About Purple Martin
The purple martin (Progne subis) is the largest North American swallow. They are known for their speed and agility in flight, and when approaching their housing, will dive from the sky at great speeds with their wings tucked.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Purple Martin by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,870 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Florida | 2,256 | April | Feb–Jun |
| Ohio | 1,325 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Illinois | 1,197 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Washington | 1,104 | May | Apr–Aug |
| New Jersey | 1,019 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Oregon | 902 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Maryland | 846 | July | Apr–Aug |
| New York | 764 | June | Apr–Aug |
| North Carolina | 743 | May | Apr–Jul |
| California | 691 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 673 | July | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 643 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Louisiana | 595 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 586 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Virginia | 535 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Delaware | 398 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Tennessee | 361 | May | Mar–Aug |
| Alabama | 341 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Michigan | 333 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Minnesota | 329 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 327 | August | May–Aug |
| Connecticut | 309 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Missouri | 308 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 238 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Indiana | 231 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kansas | 219 | April | Apr–Aug |
| South Carolina | 218 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Georgia | 207 | June | Mar–Jun |
| Iowa | 204 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Mississippi | 181 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Nebraska | 172 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Arkansas | 170 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Kentucky | 165 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | 73 | May | Apr–Aug |
| New Mexico | 61 | May | May–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 59 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Dakota | 41 | July | May–Jul |
| South Dakota | 41 | April | Apr–Aug |
| West Virginia | 36 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 30 | May | May–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 23 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 21 | June | May–Sep |
| Maine | 15 | May | May–Jul |
| Montana | 9 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 7 | May | May–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Swallows and Martins)
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cave Swallow
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Purple Martin?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to August.
Where is Purple Martin most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, Ohio.